Furniture, Waste Dumping Turns Nalas into Flood Traps

Hyderabad: Dumping of old furniture and garbage into city nalas has become a routine sight across Hyderabad, turning stormwater drains into informal dumping yards. Residents living close to nalas often treat them as garbage disposal points, worsening an already persistent civic problem. The stretch along the Musi River and its feeder streams presents some of the worst examples of such dumping.

Despite repeated appeals by civic authorities warning residents against using nalas as dumping grounds, an act that directly contributes to flooding during the monsoon, the practice continues unabated. Areas around Alwal Lake and adjoining streams are particularly affected, with garbage being dumped wherever drains are accessible.

Photographs captured by Deccan Chronicle show old furniture and waste dumped in several nalas across the city, including the Musi. Civic officials said much of the dumping is carried out by fruit vendors, petty traders, eateries, and even meat and poultry shops, which discard waste directly into the drains. Though barricades and steel mesh have been installed at several locations, people often damage them to dump garbage.

Explaining the consequences, GHMC chief engineer Sahadev Ratnakar said clogged nalas lead to inundation and flooding. “The city has suffered during the rains primarily due to choked drains. We have taken precautions such as fencing, but people continue to dump waste into nalas,” he said.

He added that officials regularly caution offenders about the harmful effects of such practices, but stressed the need for greater public awareness and accountability. “The sanitation wing imposes penalties, but civic awareness must match the spirit of the law,” he said.